It’s a fact of life: All aspiring actors and actresses dream of fame and stardom. Over the years, many have 
achieved it, with some even reaching a kind of eternal fame that lasts long after the cameras stop rolling. Very few, though, are able to become an icon in the eyes of the public. This month we’re spotlighting one of the few who achieved that level of stardom — someone who left behind not only a legacy encompassing film and style, but a legacy filled with love and humanitarianism. This month, we’re honoring the one and only Audrey Hepburn.
Audrey Hepburn was born on May 4, 1929, in Brussels, Belgium. When she was five years old, Audrey left Belgium to attend a boarding school in England. She would remain at the school for the next five years, during which time she discovered a love for dancing and a dream to become a professional dancer. However, in 1939, at the age of 10, everything suddenly changed for Audrey.
With England officially entering into the war, Audrey’s mother decided that England was too dangerous of a place for Audrey to live. So, she sent for Audrey to meet her in Holland, as it was still considered a neutral country. But on May 10, 1940, Germany invaded Holland, and Holland had to surrender just a few days later. For the next five years, Holland would remain occupied by Germany, and Audrey would pass the days by concentrating on her dancing.
When the war was finally over in 1945, she moved to England to pursue her dreams of becoming a ballerina; but, as fate would have it, her dreams of becoming a professional dancer would not come true. During the fall of 1944, Audrey experienced severe malnourishment as Germany prevented food from being imported into Holland. Consequently, after the war, the malnourishment left her body in such a poor condition that Audrey was informed that “she could not become a prima ballerina because of the physical deprivation she’d suffered during the war and the limitations of her height.” Nevertheless, Audrey would not let that news derail her dreams.
Unable to become a ballerina, Audrey sought work as a chorus girl in various cabaret shows and a few movies. Six years later, though, her career was about to change again; in 1951, Audrey made her film debut in an uncredited role in One Wild Oat. From there, she continued to book small movie roles, but it was her starring role in the Broadway play Gigi that introduced her as a potential star to both audiences and Hollywood. Two years later, in 1953, her star status was cemented as she booked the lead role in Roman Holiday, for which she would later win an Oscar for Best Actress. From there, her star rose as she appeared in such notable titles as: Sabrina (1954), Funny Face (1957), Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), Charade (1963), and My Fair Lady (1964). During the course of her career, Audrey would go on to win numerous awards for her performances, including an Emmy, a Grammy, and a Tony.
As much as Audrey contributed to the world of film as an actress and to the world of fashion as a style icon, her greatest contribution was to the world in general as a UNICEF International Goodwill Ambassador. From 1988 to 1993, Audrey “traveled to over 20 countries witnessing innocent children struggling for survival. . . [and] report[ing] these conditions to world leaders, governments and the international media.” Being able to give back and raise awareness as a UNICEF Ambassador meant a great deal to Audrey. She later reflected, “I can testify to what UNICEF means to children, because I was among those who received food and medical relief right after World War II. I have a long-lasting gratitude and trust for what UNICEF does.”
Sadly, on January 20, 1993, Audrey Hepburn passed away from colon cancer. While she may be gone, she left behind a legacy that champions love and compassion for all.
As Audrey once said: “For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”